Salford resist Wolves revival

Salford City Reds 26 Warrington Wolves 18

The week in which Darryl Van de Velde announced he is leaving Warrington started with them beating Wigan and ended in defeat by the next-bottom team at Super League at The Willows last night.

Further evidence, on the face of it, of the inconsistency that has plagued the Wolves throughout the coach's five years in charge, but they could not have tried any harder to overcome the handicap of playing 50 minutes a man short.

Despite having centre Toa Kohe-Love dismissed in the first half Warrington spent most of the second hurling themselves at the Salford line, the home team's defence ultimately proving just about equal to the task.

There was no stopping Salford on their first attack. Bobbie Goulding's kick for the corner sitting up conveniently for Nick Pinkney to score.

It took a fine run from deep by Alan Hunte to set Warrington on their way for their first try, McCurrie again being halted before Langer's awareness exploited the gap on the wing for Lee Penny to touch down.

Penny was on the scoresheet again on 18 minutes. Salford were always under pressure after Gary Broadbent conceded a penalty for a high tackle and Kohe-Love's inside ball found them overstretched on that flank once more.

Two misses from Rob Smyth left Warrington two points ahead and that was soon overturned by a spectacular second try from Pinkney. Taking a long pass from Malcolm Alker, he kicked ahead twice to outpace Penny on a 40-yard dash to the line, Blakeley adding his second goal.

On the half-hour, it went even more off key for Warrington when Kohe-Love was sent off for a high tackle on Francis Maloney. Just to make matters worse, the leading try-scorer in Super League recovered quickly enough to get the end of Michael Hancock's break for Salford's third try three minutes later.

With Hancock's spell in the sin-bin temporarily evening up the numbers, Warrington hit back at the start of the second half with Tawera Nikau's lovely reverse pass sending Jon Clarke away for a converted try.

Blakeley's penalty edged Salford further ahead, but Langer again found the gap for Dean Busby to go over and cut the deficit once more.

Paul Highton's strength took him over as the 13 men reasserted themselves, although they had to defend desperately as the Wolves refused to concede defeat.

Salford City Reds: Broadbent; Pinkney, Maloney, Littler, Offiah; Blakeley, Goulding; Driscoll, Alker, Coley, Highton, Hancock, Wainwright. Substitutes used: Makin, Stevens, Arnold, Garcia.

Warrington Wolves: Hunte; Smyth, Kohe-Love, Kidwell, Penny; Nikau, Langer; Guisset, Clarke, Nutley, McCurrie, Mercer, Busby. Substitutes used: Sibbitt, Wood, Masella.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).